Palin, 44, who's in her first term as governor, is a pioneering figure in Alaska, the first woman and the youngest person to hold the state's top political job.

She catapulted to the post with a strong reputation as a political outsider, forged during her stint in local politics. She was mayor and a council member of the small town of Wasila and was chairman of the state Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which regulates Alaska's oil and gas resources, in 2003 and 2004.

The conservative Palin defeated two so-called political insiders to win the governor's job -- incumbent Gov. Frank Murkowski in the GOP primary and former two-term Democratic Gov. Tony Knowles in the 2006 general election.

Palin made her name in part by backing tough ethical standards for politicians. During the first legislative session after her election, her administration passed a state ethics law overhaul.

Palin's term has not been without controversy. A legislative investigation is looking into allegations that Palin fired Alaska's public safety commissioner because he refused to fire the governor's former brother-in-law, a state trooper.

Palin acknowledged that a member of her staff made a call to a trooper in which the staffer suggested he was speaking for the governor.

Palin has admitted that the call could be interpreted as pressure to fire state trooper Mike Wooten, who was locked in a child-custody battle with Palin's sister.

"I am truly disappointed and disturbed to learn that a member of this administration contacted the Department of Public Safety regarding Trooper Wooten," Palin said. "At no time did I authorize any member of my staff to do so."

Palin suspended the staffer who made the call.

Palin has focused on energy and natural resources policy during her short stint in office, and she is known for her support of drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, a position opposed by McCain but supported by many grass-roots Republicans.

She hunts, eats moose hamburger, ice fishes, rides snowmobiles, and owns a float plane.[10][11] Palin holds a lifetime membership with the National Rifle Association. She admits that she used marijuana when it was legal in Alaska, but says that she did not like it.[12]

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Sag!ttarius 2

Isn't there a prophecy that says that a woman will be President during the next world war (by Nostradamus or Cayce)? Everybody that knows the "prophecy" assumed it was Hillary, but what if McCain wins and croaks for some reason while in Office, she automatically becomes the Prez

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Neognosis 647

She hunts, eats moose hamburger, ice fishes, rides snowmobiles, and owns a float plane.[10][11] Palin holds a lifetime membership with the National Rifle Association. She admits that she used marijuana when it was legal in Alaska, but says that she did not like it.[12]

Who cares? What are her policies? I don't care if she has a full sleeve of rock and roll tattoos and -snip-. I want to know what her policies are.

Only stupid people vote for people based on how they look or sound or what their hobbies are. But then again, so very many of my countrymen are stupid, lazy, apathetic sheep. ( not necessarily YOU, Kratos. At least you seem to want to know about her policies.)

You surely do throw the insults about. Are you happy in life?

Because I called people who supported Hillary that will now vote McCain because his VP is a woman "idiots?"

Let me be absolutely clear...if you were going to vote for hillary, who's platform is very similar to Obama's, and now you are going to vote for McCain, who's platform is very dissimalar to Obama's, simply because you want to vote for a woman...you are an idiot wholely undeserving of the right to vote at all. One of the necessary evils of our system is that we can't require people vote according to political belief...we have to let morons who vote based on hair style, dress, hobbies, singing voice, and now gender, into the voting booth. Then we sit around scratching our heads and wonder why we elect equally selfish and stupid people into high office.

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BlueZone 1

She catapulted to the post with a strong reputation as a political outsider, forged during her stint in local politics. She was mayor and a council member of the small town of Wasila and was chairman of the state Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which regulates Alaska's oil and gas resources, in 2003 and 2004.